Le Journal

The Portland Trail Blazers are in a time of transition, growing out of a rebuild phase, arcing towards contention in a crowded, talented Western Conference. Rebuilding or contending? The Blazers are properly described by neither designation at the moment. The middle ground they occupy leads to a fair amount of uncertainty and frustration, but also great debate about the opportunities ahead of them. Recently in the Blazer’s Edge Mailbag we’ve gotten several versions of, “What do you think Deni Avdija’s future with the team looks like?” Avdija’s status–contractually and his role on the court–seems to be at the top of the minds of Blazers fans. Just as I was sitting down to think about the matter, I got another question from a reader named Paul, basically rehearsing a discussion we have almost every summer. He asked, “Which current players are still going to be with this team in three years?” Can you please help us send kids in need to see the Blazers play the Charlotte Hornets this March? Demand is great and time to donate tickets is winding down! See how you can donate tickets below!Donate tickets for local kids to see the Blazers! Like baking soda and vinegar, these two questions exploded when combined in my mind. I’m not going to try and answer either definitively here. That requires more thought and data. But I want to share a “What if?” and see what you think. This isn’t the ultimate scenario, but a starting spot to ponder. First, what if we narrowed down Paul’s question to the smallest core possible? There are reasons to like every player on this team. No doubt many of them will be with the franchise 3-5 years from now. That’s great! Without denying the possibility and general goodness of having any current player with the team long-term, let’s reduce the roster to the smallest subset that makes sense, individually and collectively. I’m going to assume that Avdija will make the list for most Blazers fans, so let’s start with him. To Deni, I’d add Toumani Camara because you’ll never be sad to have him in the rotation. With those two in the fold, I’m going to add a third player of specific utility who might not make the list for sure on his own, but already makes a nice trio with the other two: Donovan Clingan.  Emphasizing: I realize Clingan’s strengths and limitations. In the abstract, if the Blazers decided to trade him I wouldn’t scream. It would just mean they’re going with a different style of play than he provides. But in this scenario, I’m suggesting they retain Clingan specifically to play with Avdija and Camara. That’s my core. One more detail, dovetailing with the “Deni’s Future” question. Avdija is, at heart, a small forward, pressed into point guard duty by Portland’s current injuries. But what if he wasn’t? What if running the show becomes Deni’s permanent job? Let’s say over the next couple of seasons he calms down the turnovers (he currently leads the league in total turnovers committed) and shoots just a smidge better from the three-point arc. What have I got now? A 6’8 point guard who can score a ton while producing 7-8 assists and 7-8 rebounds per game, a mobile 3-and-D forward, and a huge, defensively-apt rebounding monster at center. What’s missing? A lot of offense. Camara and Clingan don’t contribute big numbers. That’s the obvious hole in the plan at this point. But I’m also missing a shooting guard and a small forward. Those are traditional hotbed positions for point production. I’m looking at Portland’s draft picks and swaps coming up over the next few years and thinking either by trade or organic drafting, I need to pick up one wing who can defend and score decently, a second who can score big whether or not he defends well. Then my starting lineup is more than set. This is doable. It’s also a lot cleaner than Portland’s current position. You know that five-point-guard experiment they’re running now, seeing who will stick? To heck with it all. One or two of those players might help over the…

The Miami Heat visit Moda Center tonight for a rematch with Deni Avdija and the Portland Trail Blazers. Miami won its last contest with Portland on November 8th by a score of 136-131. In that game, the Heat looked like Blazers East. Its offense often resembled the Blazers’ combination of drives, kickout passes, swings around the perimeter and cuts. Like the Blazers, Miami lacked elite talent. It won with a Portland hallmark: greater effort and focus. Scrappy Miami out-Blazered the Blazers, forcing 20 Portland turnovers which led to 32 points in transition. Those early season similarities persist. The two teams’ records sit at .500 (Blazers) or two games above (Heat), At mid-season, Miami and Portland both sit at the fringe of playoff contention. A few wins could be the difference between the play-in (or higher) or an early off-season. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra is still a hall-of-fame-bound motivator. But, interim Blazers coach Tiago Splitter is meeting the moment. He has now managed more in-game situations. And, Portland now competes with a more seasoned group than it did in November. It has displayed better late-game management in recent weeks. So, this contest could be an insightful measuring stick of the team’s continuing growth. Each team has of course struggled with health. Heat sharpshooter Tyler Herro has only played 11 games this season. As of press time, Portland lists nine(!) players as out or questionable. But, whomever the Blazers suit up should have the fresher legs tonight. While the Heat are in the midst of a five-game road trip, Portland’s squad has been sleeping in its own beds during a three-day lull between games. What you Need to Know Miami Heat – (23-21) at Portland Trail Blazers (22-22) Thurs., Jan. 22 – 7:00pm Pacific How to watch via antenna or cable: See your options on the Rip City Television Network How to stream: BlazerVision in Oregon and Washington; League Pass everywhere else How to listen: Trail Blazers Audio Network Trail Blazers Injuries: Scoot Henderson, Damian Lillard, Kris Murray, Matisse Thybulle, Blake Wesley (Out); Jerami Grant, Jrue Holiday, Sidy Cissoko, Robert Williams III (Questionable). Heat Injuries: Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier (Out); Kel’el Ware (Questionable). Kit: The Blazers will take the floor in its carpet City Edition jerseys. Miami will wear its white Association Edition unis. In the last week:  Trail Blazers: L vs NY, L at GSW, W vs ATL, W vs LAL, W at SAC Heat: W vs PHX, L vs BOS, W vs OKC, L at GSW, W at SAC Stat Leaders: Trail Blazers: Points, Avdija (26.2 per game). Rebounds, Clingan (10.9). Assists, Holiday (7.1). Steals, Thybulle (2.5). Blocks, Clingan (1.3).Heat: Points, Powell (23.7 per game). Rebounds, Ware (9.8). Assists, Mitchell (7.2). Steals, Smith (1.4). Blocks, Ware (1.1). Tale of the Tape: Trail Blazers: Offensive rating: 113.5 (21st place) Defensive rating: 115.4 (17th place)Heat  Offensive rating: 113.7 (20th place) Defensive rating: 112.8 (8th place) Coming Attractions: The game is the front half of the Blazers’ second back-to-back this week. The team plays the Raptors at home tomorrow before heading East to play at Boston on Monday and at Washington on Tuesday. Storylines Wishbone Returns  Eleven years into his NBA career, bowlegged former Blazers wing Norman Powell returns to Moda Center averaging a career-best 23.7 points per game. (His career average is just 13.8 points per game.) Taking the minutes of the oft-injured Herro, Powell enters tonight’s contest as the Heat’s leading scorer. Miami is currently the fifth highest scoring team in the league.  Fred Katz of The Athletic shares Powell’s thought process (subscription required) as he looks for his own shot more than ever before. …on a team in need of his off-the-dribble creation, he’s become obsessed with opponents’ footwork on closeouts. He receives passes and looks first to his defender’s top leg. He reads which direction to drive from there. After more than…

READ ALL OF TODAY’S SHOWBIZ411 HEADLINES HERE Today’s Oscar nominations may be more important than you know. Jacob Elordi, just 28, got his first nod, for “Frankenstein.” The Australian born star of TV’s “Euphoria” has taken off like a rocket. Now, with this nomination, he moves up to top of the list of candidates to […] The post Is Jacob Elordi Our New James Bond? Today’s Oscar Nomination for “Frankenstein” May Make Him the Youngest 007 Ever appeared first on Showbiz411.

Sydney Sweeney is going where no actress has gone before. She’s going to star in a film version of Edith Wharton’s 1913 novel, “The Custom of the Country.” Sweeney will play the aggressively ambitious and unlikable Undine Spragg, a force of nature on the page but so far not translatable to screen or stage. This […] The post Sydney Sweeney to Star in Previously Un-filmable Movie Version of Edith Wharton Novel, “Custom of the Country” appeared first on Showbiz411.